RockOverdose and Zisis Petkanas had the chance to speak with Johnny McKelvey founding member and bass player of the celtic punk rockers The Rumjacks, on their new album "Hestia", marking a new era for the band!
"Hestia" is out and you can buy Vinyl / CD / Download / Stream it here: https://abcmusic.lnk.to/hestia
Enjoy!
(You may listen to the whole interview at the player below)
RockOverdose: Hello and welcome to RockOverdose! How are you these days?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Thanks for having me! I'm good! Trying to be safe! We'll get through this and when this pandemic finishes we'll get back to play music!
RockOverdose: How are the things there?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): At the momment I'm in Northen Ireland, we have total lockdown but vacinations are moving along quite quickly so we're expecting it's on a good direction, I believe that soon we will return back to reality.
RockOverdose: Let's hope! I'm sure you miss live shows...
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Yes! We usually travel a lot, meet new people, different cultures around the world. We love doing that, so it is very odd for us to not be doing that right now. It means a lot to us to get back to normal. Touring is the best part of being in a band, that's what we do, of course we like to write, record new music first...which gives us this opportunity. But yeah, the on road experience is what we miss more!
RockOverdose: Your fifth studio album “Hestia” (Εστία), marks a new era for the band. Can you tell us a few things about its context?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Yes! We recorded "Hestia" during summer 2020, there was a bit of restrictions around the world and we had to get all band members - that live in different places around the world - in one place together. We did it actually! So everyone had their ideas, Mike Rivkees just had tones of ideas, we recorded as much as we could and worked through because we didn't know how long it will take us until we see each other again. So we recorded 15 tracks for Hestia, we couldn't be happier! This is our first record with Mike he brought a whole new kind of possitive and enjoyable approach to the band! It was such a good "working environment" if I could say that, having someone that motivates you and brings a nice fresh approach.
RockOverdose: What about the albums' direction? How different it is from the previous one?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):We dont really have a direction set out for the album. We just meet and play every single song, every single idea and that's how the album comes out. I don't thing we re-invented the Rumjacks at all, it's just a fresh approach.
Everything on Hestia is kind of touched in and approached in our previous albums as well. We're having a bit more bagpipes in this album and banjos as well. It's still the same thing, celtic punk rock, ska reggae and that stuff, there's nothing done intentional, we just put out what we have and this is what we got! It's a nice album and I'm really proud for that.
RockOverdose: Why did you chose the name “Hestia”, I think is named after the Greek goddess of home and hearth (Εστία), is that true?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Yes! You got it! The song came first, if you listen to it it's about a strong female character fighting back and protecting ... We kind of wanted that song to be open for interpretation and get its own kind of meaning. There's no direct message we didn't want to force that, either for the album, so we named the album Hestia because is a strong name coming of the song which came as single too. Hestia is one of the less known Goddesses if you ask me, but people can can get their own meaning from it.
RockOverdose: Are you going to release any other single or video?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):Light in my shaddow is going to be released soon, the third official single to come out. The video was shot in Milan, in one of my favorite pubs and also around the streets during summer, which is weird if you see it now...
RockOverdose: What are the first reactions of the people that have listened the singles so far?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): The feedback is really amazing! We are overwhelmed with how positive and supportive people are. Lot's of compliments for our new singer Mike as well, he's an amazing singer and songwritter!
We're waiting for the release date to listen the whole album and get more feedback from the people. So far it's been extremely amazing!
RockOverdose: You had a difficult period previously when your singer Frankie had to be removed from the band...
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Yes! We moved Frankie in April last year, a few months before summer, Mike joined in as we wanted to continue with the remaing members, we had a more possitive and healthy environment to do that. That's meant a lot for Mike too, to take over and come to join the band.
RockOverdose: The album introduces your new lead singer Mike Rivkees. How was the experience of working together this time?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):Really good! He's a very possitive dude, he has many ideas even for quitar riffs or song ideas, has a lot of influences, he made it very confortable for the rest of the band to work together and put our ideas and thoughts on songs, we make hard work in a really fun experience while recording and that's what we needed! We enjoyed it a lot!
RockOverdose: That's the most important!
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):Yes! If you don't enjoy it just don't do it! Playing music is fun!
RockOverdose: One of your biggest headline shows recorded on Live album is your Athens show back in 2018. What are your memories from Greece? Why do you believe the greek fans can adapt your music so much and with such passion?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):We love Greece! We've been there a lot! It was actually a surprise for us on our first show there in Los Almyros Festival in Volos, it was crazy! We came back and did a few more shows like in Street Mode festival in Thessaloniki, one of the most enjoyable festivals to play, I definately recomend it to any band.
We always enjoy playing in Greece, you're super lovely and friendly! The shows are really big too, that's why we decided to record there, we had the opportunity to make a live album so we did it in Athens, it was huge! Probably that show was the biggest club show for us, an incredible experience! We have amazing memories from Greece!
RockOverdose:Regarding Thessaloniki and Street Mode, which are your memories from there?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks):I think we played at least two times at Street Mode. The last time we played just turned to vacations! It was absolutelly fantastic, Yotis and his team! We love it each time there and if we can we would like to play each time there!
The last time we played I think we had a three days of in Thessaloniki which was amazing, we went to Rover Bar and a bunch of other places! We gotta look like family in Thessaloniki so we will love it there!
Rockoverdose: So we have to send our greetings to Yotis!
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Yes! Yotis, Made Of Stone Productions, everyone that he works with and are involved with them, Rover Bar, Stay Hostel they are all lovely lovely people and as I said they are extremely close friends and they have looked after as from the second we 've arrived and we are all good friends and we still stay in contact and yes, we will always be going back to Street Mode, its an amazing place!
RockOverdose: Any news on when the postponed tour dates will be scheduled again? What are your future plans?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): It's hard at the momment to guess. At this stage every country is different, but fingers crossed by the end of summer we might have some festivals go ahead or clubs open. Hopefully we would do whatever we can! We will see...
RockOverdose: Any other news that you'd like to reveal from the band?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): The release ofr Hestia is on March. Is a celebration when you have a release, we're going to have an online party, live Q&A with our fans. Then if we can I hope we'll do some shows or go back to the studio together again, record for maybe another release, you never know! If we get back together we'll record some music, I'm not sure if it's for another album this year but we''ll see...
RockOverdose: What's your opinion on the punk rock scene worldwide?
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): I think it's good and strong. More people have access to new musicthrough internet, they are more able to discover new music via spotify, youtube etc that's good. People can become fans more easily, it's not just the world of mouth any more or a lucky gem in a record store!
RockOverdose: We would like you to send a message to your Greek fans and our listeners/readers.
Johnny McKelvey (The Rumjacks): Thank you very much for your support from day 1 in Greece! You treated us better than we ever expected! It's definately an honor whenever we come and play! Thank you all for buying our music, t-shirts, coming to our shows, saying hello, drinking beer together .. it means a lot to us! Thank you for being so kind to us! If you ask us we'll always come to Greece!
RockOverdose: Wish you all the best for your new album! Hope we'll meet in Greece soon !
For RockOverdose,
Zisis Petkanas
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